Healthcare in north Cumbria makes 2018 General Practice Awards shortlist

Published: 18th September 2018

A community nurse from north Cumbria has been shortlisted in the 2018 General Practice Awards in recognition of her role in the integration of health and care services.

Angela Reynolds, Integrated Care Community Manager, has been shortlisted in the Community Nurse of the Year category out of hundreds of entries. The awards celebrate the best examples of innovation, dedication and leadership taking place in primary care and this category seeks a brilliant individual making a real difference to provision of care in their local area.

Large changes to the way health and care services are delivered in north Cumbria are underway with the development of eight Integrated Care Communities (ICCs). Closer working between health and care services, including community teams and GP practices, is helping to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and ensuring more care can be provided in the community, without the need for a hospital stay.

Innovative work within the Eden ICC to deliver more community care, such as the new community model of care in Alston, has been recognised internationally and is being replicated elsewhere in the county. Health and care teams have been brought together on one site to help break down organisational barriers and support more seamless care.

Angela has played a vital role in these developments and her leadership skills, ability to bring people together and determination to develop a better system for patients and communities have all been recognised in her nomination.

Dr Ashley Liston, Lead GP for Eden ICC, made the nomination and said:

“I am delighted that Angie has been chosen as a finalist for this prestigious award. The work of developing Eden ICC has required strong leadership and team working across organisations and disciplines involving numerous people, with Angie having a pivotal role in shaping the vision and developing the culture.

“Her work in planning the transformation of the Lonsdale unit to provide a base for community health and adult social care teams has been outstanding. This co-location of staff is already breaking down barriers and improving the working relationship between teams resulting in more efficient and responsive care being provided for patients. This, alongside many other areas of foundational work, is allowing Eden ICC to rapidly move forward in its ambition to provide effective community-based care for the people of Eden.”

Angela added:

“It is an enormous privilege to be nominated for this award. I have been nursing and helping shape health and care services for 30 years here in Cumbria with each day filled with new challenges and opportunities. Everything we do is a team approach and it has taken a wide range of people from different organisations and communities across north Cumbria to bring Integrated Care Communities from a concept into becoming a reality. In simple terms it is connecting people together to benefit themselves and others, for me the key factors are kindness and encouragement at every level.”

“It is fantastic that Angie has been nominated for this award, putting the work to integrate health and care services in north Cumbria on the national stage. The North Cumbria Health & Care system was named as one of 14 Integrated Care Systems earlier this year in recognition of the progress that has been made and showing confidence in our future plans. Angie has played an instrumental role in the way we work together across the system and with local communities and her excellent leadership has helped put our plans into action.”

The award winners will be announced in a ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London on 30 November.